“Lena Olin:Biography 4º parte”

In a 2005 MEA interview during the production of “Casanova” Lena spoke of what it was like to work with Lasse:

“He is very honest with booth me and the others,and I can ask him about anything.And  he is always calm.This morning things were a bit chaotic before we started filming,because the water  had risen to such a high level that the extras couldn`t get here.But Lasse was calm.And because he is calm,everyone else is calm too.He knows exactly what he wants to achieve and how to archive it.Which has the side effect that when we get home at night,we don`t talk shop.A short reflection about one of the scenes maybe,that`s it”.

Following the amazing success of the critically acclaimed “Chocolat”,Lena proved to be just as prolific in the new millennium as She had been in the 1990`s,starring as a jederal judge in 2001`s “Ignition”,opposite Bill Pullman,as a vampire in Michael Kymer`s 2002 production of the Anne Rice novel “Queen of  the Damned”.

Lena Olin:Chocolat

A nurse in  denial over the odd-happenings withion her own home in the horror film Darkness,a devastated mother in “The United States of Leland”,and a psychic radio talk show host in Ron Shelton`s blockbuster,”Hollywood Homicide” in 2003…..

Lena Olin:Ignition

Roles as varied and multi-faceted as Lena is herself.And like her films in the 1990`s while neither necessareily success ful in the box-office nor with the critics,Lena gave every thing She had to each performance,leaving no doubt as to her rangeor abilities.

The quintessential role of her career(since The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Enemies,A love Story)would surprisinghy come on the small screen.

Lena Olin:Queen of the Damned

In 2002 Lena signed on as a regular cast member of J.J Abram`s hit television series,Alias.Having seen her as Mona Demarkov in “Romeo Is Bleeding” years before,Abrams Knew that She`d be perfect in the role of series´star,Sydney Bristow`s(played by Jennifer Garner) mother,Irina Derevko.

Lena Olin:Irina Derevko-Alias

Drevko was a former KGB spy sent to the United States in the 1970`s to seduce and marry a CIA agent,steal his secrets and help mother Russia win the cold war.

After faking her death in a car crash,Derevko returned home and eventually began her own empire as “The Man”,a mafia leader and terrorist,who resurfaces in her family`s life unexpectedly,leaving everyone guessing as to what her true intentions are.

Lena Olin:Irina and Jack

In a 2002 Entertainment Weekly interview,Abrams Said,”This is a coup for us.Here is a woman who is so accesible and relatable and vulnerable,and at the same time,She is whip smart and could kick your ass faster than you blink”.

A hit with teens and twenty somethings,Lena`s fabulous portrayal of this enigmatic charater brought her to the attention of a whole new generation of fans,earming her a cult-like following of devotees…..attention that left the usually shy star a bit uncomfortable,as well as confused.(“…….it seems as people are suddenly reminded that I exist…”She was quoted as saying in a 2003 National Post interview)as to what all the fuss was about.

Lena Olin:Homenage

After just one seanson,Lena took some time off,preferring to spend more time with her family back on the east coast.The regular commute cross country had taken its toll,and there were other roles being offered to her that She wanted the time to pursue.Still,Lena would be a recurring cast member through the show`s five-season run,lending credibility to what would become second-rate by the end.

Lena Olin:Homenage

In 2005,Lena returned to Sweden to star in Danish director,Simon Staho`s,independent production “Bang Banmg Orangutang”,opposite Mikael Persbrandt,a favorite Swedish leading man,playing his estranged wife,coping with the loss of their young son in a freak automobile accident.

That same year,Lena hit the big screen in the United States in her second joint project with Lasse Hallstrom,playing a Venetian mother hell-bent on marrying her only daughter off to a wealthy merchant in the comedy “Casanova”,which also starred Heath Ledger,Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons.

Lena Olin:Casanova

Having proved her comedic chops in the independent film “Polish Wedding”,Lena once again showed audiences that She was far from a “one-note”.

A favorite,not only with fans,but also with her co-stars,one role that you`ll never see herplay is that of “Diva”……unless of course the script calls for that.While She does enjoy the perks that come along with being an American film actress,Lena isn`t afraid to get down and dirty and just focus on the work….a trait that was proven whe  She was offered the role of Kathrym Vale in the upcoming independent production of “Devil you Know”.

Lena Olin:Devil you Know

The role had originally gone to Lesley- Anne Waren,but Warren was fired from the production after repeated complaints about the quality of her accommodations,ect.Gracious as ever,Lena stepped into the production and gave it her all,as always,not caring that the budget had no allowances for a team of stylist and assistants to trail her every move.No release date has been set at this time.

Immediately following “Devil you Know”,came another independent role in Awake,where She plays the mother of surgical patient(played by Hayden Christensen).

Lena Olin-Life

Who Kisses Best In Hollywood?

Lena Olin:Reveals

“I Like cool,sloppy guys”

Somehow,She manager to combine the Hollywood star shine with Swedish wiseness Now,for the first time in 15 years,Lena Olin is working in Sweden.She tells ELLE why She´s always tuirned on by sloppy men.

Something´s going on.Inside the photo studio,the music is pulsating,the search lights are lighting un the white background,and there…..Lena Olin is dancing around like a sensual fairy with the Pucci dres fluttering around her legs.She´s an astonishing sight.Forceful,seductive,barefoot.The har-that of o true moviestar-flies wildly about.She Likes this,you can tell.And the camera Likes her.

Our biggest Swedish Hollywood star has landed in Sweden.She´s in top frorm after a week´s work as the wife of Michael Persbrandt in Bang Bang Orangutang,wich opens in October,and is Lena´s first Swedish film in 15 years.The little refers to a children´s rhyme and the plot is a tragic story about a family falling apart,directed by Simon Stano,who did Dag och natt.Lena fell helplessly in love.

-How Come?-Do you get jealous?

-Yes,in some strange way.It bursts the intimate bubble.Here,it´s “Our thing”,”Us two” that have something going on,She clarifies,and points with her whole hand towards….it happens to be the erabin an inappropiate pose with its legs in the air.

Excuse me,but may I remind you that youire married,Lena!

She laughs hard,and her eyes sparkle.

-”I use to think that it´s lucky I´m so crazy about my husband,or I don´t know what would have happened!!”

-After 15 years together(10 of them married) they seem genuinely fond of each other,Lena Olin and Lasse Halstrom-and in their common life in the country in Bedford,45 minutes from Manhattan An idyllic place with a school close by for daughter Tora,9.Cutting room at home,where Lasse and his assistant sometimes work until the wee hours.A chef and nannies are also a part of the family picture.Lena her self works when She feels Like is.

-”Although I have anxiety every time I´m leaving home.And wonder how they´re going to manage without me.Will Lasse find the right tights for Tora´s gym class?.Will the nanny be able to handle the whole thing without me? I always regret leaving right up until I´m on the set.Then I let every thing go”-

-Of all the directors Lena´s worked with,She holds Lasse the highest.Ever since they worked together in Chocolat,in Zooo,they´ve been looking for a new suitable proyect and found int in Casanova,which was filmed in Venice last year,July through November.

-”It was just incredible.Since we were there for such a long time,we became more Like citizen than tourist on a job.”

Continuara………..Archivo de la revista ELLE-2005

Lena Olin and Lasse Hallstrom-Life